The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Construction work of the much-talked-about Bijoy Sarani-Tejgaon Link Road remains unaccomplished due to the delay in demolishing the controversial high-rise Rangs Bhaban in the city.

There are allegations that a vested quarter is now trying its best to delay the demolition process of the Rangs Bhaban very tactfully. Their main objective is to delay the demolition work of Rangs Bhaban up to December this year.

However, Housing and Public Works Secretary SM Rashidul Hye ruled out any speculation over demolishing the Rangs Bhaban.

He said construction of the Bijoy Sarani-Tejgaon Link Road would be completed soon through the complete demolition of the Rangs Bhaban.

"The Bijoy Sarani-Tejgaon Link Road will be opened for the movement of public on December 16 next," he emphatically said.

It may be recalled that the Government had already approved the construction of a one-kilometer long link road project from Bijoy Sarani intersection to the Tejgaon Industrial Area. Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) was given the responsibility of implementing the project. But, the link road could not be constructed due to the presence of the illegal Rangs Bhaban, mainly due to the pro-rich bias of the successive governments of the country and the influence exerted by the owner of the Rangs Group.

Rangs Bhaban was constructed unlawfully occupying the government and waqf lands and that the plan of the building was not approved by Rajuk.

According to the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, it was built illegally on the land of waqf estate and the Roads and Highways Department that was to be part of a proposed road, in violation of the rules of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, and in defiance of a High Court order. Yet, successive governments have preferred to keep it outside whatever actions they have taken to reclaim encroached land and demolish illegal structures.

After taking over power the present caretaker government took fresh initiative to construct the Bijoy Sarani-Tejgaon Link Road. The Government also took necessary legal steps for constructing the link road according to a Rajuk approved master plan through the demolition of the controversial Rangs Bhaban. On August 2, 2007 the Supreme Court declared fourteen floors above the fifth floor of the 20-storeyed building illegal. Accordingly, initiative was taken to demolish the illegal 14 floors of the building and also for acquisition of the legal portion of the building for construction of the link road project. Pulling down of the building from 6th floor to the 19th floor began on August 3 last year. At the same time, construction process of the link road behind the Rangs Bhaban has been going on in full swing. Different establishments built illegally on the land of Public Works Department and Bangladesh Railway have also been demolished.

A senior official of the Rajuk said the Bijoy Sarani-Tejgaon link road project is being implemented spending Tk 122 crore. Of the amount, Tk 77 crore expenditures have been estimated for acquisition of land and rehabilitation of the affected families.

He said a total of 11 bighas of land would be required for implementing the project. Of the land, some six bighas are owned by Public Works Department and Bangladesh Railway which are already there in the project and which does not require to be acquisitioned.

In accordance with the existing government rules, the land owned by the PWD has already been handed over in favour of Rajuk, but the land owned by Bangladesh Railway is yet to be handed over to Rajuk. Besides, there are five pucca buildings existed on the land owned by Bangladesh Railway. The authorities of Bangladesh Railway are yet to take necessary measures for demolishing these buildings.

An official of the project said there were as many as 63 structures on the land acquisitioned for the construction of link road. Of them, 55 structures were built illegally, which have already been demolished. The construction of the link road is now being hampered due to the cases filed by the owners of legal structures against the Rajuk's acquisition order. However, the Rajuk has appointed former Attorney General AJ Mohammad Ali as its legal expert to deal with the cases.

The official said two persons among those filed cases against the Rajuk acquisition order have already collected their compensations. In spite of repeated insistence through serving notices, the Rangs Bhaban authorities are not collecting their compensation. The compensation amount of Tk 20 crore of the Rangs Bhaban owner is now lying with the treasury of Deputy Commissioner, Dhaka.

He said the price of legal six floors of the Rangs Bhaban and 22 katha of land have been fixed at Tk 25 crore. Instead of collecting this amount, the Rangs Bhaban authorities have been trying to hamper the demolition process very tactfully.

However, Housing Secretary SM Rashidul Hye said no tactic would yield any result. The link road would be constructed in time through the pulling down of the Rangs Bhaban. The link road would be opened for the movement of public on December 16 next.

He also said an ultra-modern concrete-cutter has already been imported from Switzerland for demolishing the Rangs Bhaban safely. "It will be possible to demolish the building within a very short span of time using this machine," he said.